Dissociative disorders remain among the most misunderstood and stigmatized mental health conditions, both within clinical environments and in the public sphere. As individuals increasingly turn to digital platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and other social media spaces for mental health education and community identity, the accuracy and tone of online content have become essential in shaping public understanding. This session will help participants navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape, understand how misinformation spreads, and recognize how ethical, evidence-informed digital education can create safer and more inclusive mental health communities.

Drawing from clinical experience, digital engagement expertise, and research-informed communication strategies, this presentation will demonstrate how online platforms can be leveraged to reduce stigma, amplify lived experience narratives, and increase mental health literacy surrounding dissociation.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify common misconceptions and stereotypes about dissociative disorders that are frequently amplified in digital spaces and explain how these narratives contribute to stigma and inequities in mental health care.
2. Evaluate the credibility of mental health content encountered on social media by applying digital literacy principles, including source assessment, algorithm awareness, and interpretation of user-generated narratives.
3. Describe evidence-informed and ethically grounded strategies for communicating about dissociative disorders online, with attention to trauma-informed language, inclusivity, and responsible self-disclosure.
4. Explain how digital platforms can expand access to mental health education for underserved populations and support community building, validation, and stigma reduction for people with dissociative disorders.
5. Develop a framework for creating or supporting accurate, compassionate, and culturally responsive digital mental health communication that promotes understanding, reduces harm, and centers lived experience.